Durango’s Matthew Lavengood will open the CHSAA State Wrestling Championships with a tough matchup against Rylen Thalhammer of Palmer Ridge, who was 36-6 this year. Lavengood compiled a 29-10 mark.

Steve Lewis/Durango Herald file photo

Durango’s Matthew Lavengood will open the CHSAA State Wrestling Championships with a tough matchup against Rylen Thalhammer of Palmer Ridge, who was 36-6 this year. Lavengood compiled a 29-10 mark.

Pairings were released Sunday for the CHSAA State Wrestling Championships, which begin Thursday at the Pepsi Center in Denver, and the 11 local wrestlers making the trip now know what awaits them when they get there.

Durango High School will send three wrestlers to this weekend’s event – Matthew Lavengood at 113 pounds, Nick Tarpley at 152 and Daniel Gustavson at 220.

Lavengood, 29-10 this season, will open with 36-6 Rylen Thalhammer of Palmer Ridge, ranked third in his weight class by coloradopreps.com. Tarpley, 37-4 and ranked No. 1 in the most recent coloradopreps.com poll before a third-place showing at regionals, drew 26-10 Jared Albo of Broomfield in his tournament opener, while Gustavson, 27-12, will meet Jorge Cortez of Mead, who was 20-7 in his junior campaign.

Beebe (18-22) has a tough draw, starting with unbeaten Trenton Piatt (40-0) of Olathe in his opening match, while McMenimen, 29-6 this year, opens with 31-13 Jorge Martinez of Sheridan. The 21-8 Rodriguez has tough competition right out of the gate, taking on Olathe’s Jacob Solseth (27-4), while Zink (22-12) will meet Anthony Mozal of Valley (21-11).

Rhodes, 29-11, will open state with Ben Gutierrez of University, who’s 32-14. Cerdas (15-17) will take on Justice Reddick (16-5) of Platte Canyon, while Eckstein (26-7) drew 20-6 Dorian Richard of Valley, ranked No. 4 in the most recent coloradopreps.com poll.

Ignacio High School’s lone qualifier was heavyweight Josh Gallegos (11-19), and he’ll open his state tournament with Lorenzo Trujillo of John Mall, who was 17-9 this season.

Ignacio and Bayfield get under way at 3 p.m. Thursday, with Durango set to begin at 7:15 p.m. Consolation matches will take place Friday, as will quarterfinals and semifinals, with finals set for Saturday.

JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald file photo
Bayfield’s Colter McMenimen, at 29-6, will open his state tournament with Sheridan’s Jorge Martinez when wrestling begins Thursday at the Pepsi Center in Denver.

JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald file photo
Bayfield’s Colter McMenimen, at 29-6, will open his state tournament with Sheridan’s Jorge Martinez when wrestling begins Thursday at the Pepsi Center in Denver.